Toy model with transforming tire mechanism

ABSTRACT

In accordance with one implementation of the present principles, the toy model tires are designed to be divided into sections. Each divided tire section independently pivots on its own fixed fulcrum point. In response to terrain conditions, the tires can transform by the pivoting of the tire sections outward, thus increasing the outer diameter and causing the tire to take on a claw like form to assist in overcoming rough terrain or obstacles on a running surface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/228,283 filed on Jul. 24, 2009, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to radio control toy models. More particularly, it relates to a radio control toy model with a transforming tire capability.

2. Description of Related Art

There are several conventional ways to increase the “grip” of a tire. For example, increasing height of treads, suspension adjustments, use of different rubber materials, use of larger-scale wheels, etc. However, since the shape and outer diameter of a tire are fixed, acceptable terrains or running surfaces for vehicles with normal round tires are limited. Vehicles with conventional round tires of any size can suffer from slipping uneven roads, grass or sands, due to lack of grip. In addition, these vehicles can become stuck altogether if the tires cannot overcome the road surface or terrain.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one implementation of the present principles, the round tire can be specially designed to be divided into several sections. Each divided tire section independently pivots on its own fixed fulcrum point. Thus, the outer diameter of tire can become larger after all tire pieces or sections start transforming and spread out. These and other aspects are achieved in accordance with an implementation of the invention where the toy model includes a chassis, at least one motor, a gear mechanism connected to the at least one motor, and at least two transforming tires connected to the gear mechanism. Each transforming tire includes at least two tire sections configured to pivot outward beyond an outer circumference of the tire when a load on the tire exceeds a predetermined threshold.

In accordance with one implementation, the tire transforming mechanism includes a tire link connecting each tire section to the transmission link, a pivot point about which each tire section pivots, and a torsion spring around each of said pivot points and configured to bias each tire section inward. The torsion spring provides the predetermined load threshold for tire transforming.

Other aspects and features of the present principles will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the present principles, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar components throughout the views:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of the toy model with transforming tire mechanism according to an implementation of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toy model with the tires transformed according to an implementation of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the tire transforming mechanism according to an implementation of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a transforming tire prior to transformation according to an implementation of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the transforming time after transformation according to an implementation of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the transforming tire prior to transformation, according to an implementation of the invention;

FIG. 7 is perspective view of the transforming tire after transformation, according to an implementation of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the transforming tire showing the locking mechanism in an unlocked position; and

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the transforming tire showing the locking mechanism in a locked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with one implementation show in FIG. 1, the toy model 10 includes a body (not shown), a chassis 12, wheels 14, motors 16R, 16L, a gear assembly 20, a power source such as, for example a battery 24 (not shown), and a RX PCB (receiver printed circuit board) 22, etc. The driving motors 16L and 16R are located at left and right of Chassis 12 respectively. The left motor 16L drives left wheels 14 in front and rear, and vice versa with the right motor 16R. The RX PCB 22 receives signal from a remote or transmitter (TX) and controls left and right motors 16L and 16R individually and lets the motors turn either clockwise, counter-clockwise or stop. The user can control the vehicle to move forward, backward, left turn, right turn or stop by using various combinations of rotation from the left and right motors.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the transformable wheel 14 of the present invention consists of outer wheel 50, an inner wheel 32, a lock button 48, a cam 46, a lock pin holder 44, a center pipe 40, a transmission link 34, a tire assembly 30 made up of at least two separate tire parts, a push spring 38, a shaft, 42, screws 52 and an axle/end gear 54 (as shown in FIG. 3). The speed of the motors 16 can be reduced by a gear train and is finally transmitted to axle or end gear 54. The axle/end gear 54 and transmission link 34 are firmly fixed and rotate simultaneously. The transmission link 34 can travel within sector shaped gap 56 at inner wheel 32 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each tire assembly 30 is divided into three tire sections 30 a, 30 b, and 30 c, each of which pivots around a fulcrum 68 at the center, and shaft 42, which is fixed into the lock pin holder 44, is connected to the tire link 60 and transmission link 34 are connected and can move together. When transmission link 34 rotates against inner wheel 32 (in the presence of a load on the tires), the divided tire sections 30 spread out as shown in FIG. 7 and thereby increase the outer diameter of the tire. The torsion springs 70 are fixed at a location between each tire section 30 and inner wheel 32 and positioned around the fulcrum 68. The torsion springs 70 operate to bias the divided tire sections back to a direction of the original round-shape as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, torsion springs 70 provide a predetermined threshold of load which the tires can accept before transforming and expanding outward into the claw like configuration. Although shown and described in the context of three (3) tire sections 30A-30C, the present invention can be applied to any tire assembly having at least two (2) tire sections.

The rotation of driving motors 16 is transmitted to transmission link 34 through axle/end gear 54. When the axle/end gear 54 turns to move forward, and the load applied to the wheel is lower than a predetermined threshold, the force of central torsion springs 70 exceeds the rotary force. As a result, transmission link 34 does not travel and stays in a position shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the tire does not transform and stays in the original round shape, and then rolls forward normally.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, and in accordance with a preferred implementation, a sector shaped gap 56 can be set up between axle gear 54 and the transmission link 34. Thus, when excess load is applied to wheels 14 of a running vehicle, wheels 14 are forced to stop, but on the contrary, axle/end gears 54 still try to continue to rotate. The rotary force of wheel against axle/end gear 54 can be twisted or delayed due to rotary movement within sector shaped gap 56. The torque or delayed rotary force can be utilized to make all divided tire sections 30A-30C of the tire assembly 30 spread out simultaneously. The torsion springs 70 mounted inside the wheel (See FIGS. 6 and 7) keeps pulling (or biases) the transformed and divided tire sections inward in the direction of the original round-shape of the wheel, so the wheels 14 will automatically transform back to their original round-shape when the load on the same is reduced.

In other words, the load to wheels is less (i.e., lower coefficient of friction) when the vehicle runs on flat surfaces, so the vehicle runs normally with the original round-shaped tires. When an excess load is applied to wheels when vehicle runs on rough terrains (i.e., coefficient of friction increases), the normal round tire will transform into a different shape like a wheel wearing saw blades or extended claws (as shown, for example, in FIG. 2). The transformed wheels increase the vehicle's “grip” on/over obstacles and also functions to increase the ground clearance of the vehicle (i.e., makes the vehicle taller) due to the increased outside diameter of the wheels. Thus, the vehicle can run over the obstacles with less difficulty due to higher effective ground clearance.

When axle/end gear 54 turns to move forward, and also an excess load is applied to the wheel, the rotary force exceeds the force of torsion springs 70. In response, the transmission link 34 travels to a position which is shown in FIG. 5. In connection with this motion, the divided tire pieces 30 start turning around their respective fulcrum 68 at the center, and a whole tire transforms into a totally different shape like a wheel with saw blades or extended claws, and which also makes the tire have a larger outside diameter. The vehicle with the transformed tires can run off-road dynamically.

When there are not any obstacles or when the load to wheel is reduced, the tire automatically transforms back to the original round-shape as shown in FIG. 4 because force of central Torsion Spring 36 now exceeds rotary force. The pulling force of outer torsion springs 70 can be changed, so the timing of transformation by the amount of load to wheel is adjustable. As shown in FIG. 2, left and right Wheels are symmetrical, so Tire can transform when it moves forward only.

In one implementation, there is included a lock mechanism installed at both the starting point and the end of a sector shaped gap 56 inside the wheel. FIGS. 8 and 9 shows cross sectional views of the wheels 14 showing this locking mechanism. As shown in FIG. 8, when the lock button 48 is pulled outward away from the tire, the cam 46 and shafts 42 are controlled such that the ends of the shafts do not enter a locking gap 80, thus allowing tire transformation in accordance with the present principles. When the lock button is pushed in as shown in FIG. 9, the cam 46 and shafts 42 cooperate to cause the ends of the shafts to enter the locking gap 80 and thereby lock rotation of the lock pin holder 44 and thereby prevent tire transformation according to the invention.

Thus, when the wheel is locked at starting point of the sector shaped gap, rotary motion of axle gear and wheel cannot be twisted. The tire cannot be transformed and stays in the original round-shape even if excess load is applied to the wheels, so vehicle normally runs with the round-shape tires. When it is locked at the end of sector shaped gap, rotary motion between axle/end gear and wheel will be maximized continuously. Vehicle can run with transformed tires even if load is not applied to the wheels.

In an automatic mode (i.e., a state of operation when the Lock Button is not being pressed) is shown in FIG. 8. Shaft 42 is located inside transmission link 34, so transmission link and inner wheel 32 cannot be locked to each other, and transmission link 34 can freely travel from a position shown in FIG. 4 to a position shown FIG. 5. Transmission link moves back-and-forth within sector shaped gap at inner wheel, so the Tire can either transform or return to the original round-shape depending on the amount of load.

When lock button is pressed in as shown in FIG. 9, it also presses down lock pin holder 44 via Cam 46. Lock pin shafts 42 is now inserted into a position between transmission link 34 and inner wheel 32, so it locks both parts, and transmission link 34 cannot travel within sector shaped gap 80 at inner wheel 32.

When Lock Button 48 is pressed into the position 42A as shown in FIG. 4, tire 30 can be firmly fixed without transformation. The tire stays in the original round-shape and normally rolls forward even if excess load is applied to wheels.

When lock button 48 is pressed into the position 42B as shown in FIG. 5, the tire can be locked into the transformed position with the tire sections 30A-30C extended as shown.

Once the lock button 48 is pressed in, it stays in the same position due to the cam mechanism. The push spring 38 operates in conjunction with the lock button 48, such that when lock button 48 is pressed again, it is released and goes back to the original position. Either lock (at 42A or 42B position) or unlock is alternatively selectable.

In order for this mechanism to be efficient, a driven axle is required, so AWD (all-wheel drive) vehicles are preferable. However, transformation at either front or rear wheels (2WD vehicles) can occur with the transforming mechanism of the present invention. A vehicle with 2-motor differential drive is explained above as an exemplary embodiment. However, it is to be understood that this mechanism can be applied to vehicles that have a conventional front steering system. Also, the described example shows a tire with 3 divided sections, however the number of tire sections can vary without departing from the scope of this disclosure, with the provision that the present tire transforming mechanism can be applied to a tire having at least two sections (i.e., more than one section).

While there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the present principles, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the same. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the present principles. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or implementation of the present principles may be incorporated in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or implementation as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

1. A toy model comprising: a chassis; at least one motor; a gear mechanism connected to the at least one motor; and at least two transforming tires connected to the gear mechanism, wherein each transforming tire comprises at least two tire sections configured to pivot outward beyond an outer circumference of the tire when a load on the tire exceeds a predetermined threshold.
 2. The toy model of claim 1, wherein the at least two transforming tires further comprises: an axle/end gear in communication with said gear mechanism; an inner wheel configured to receive and pivotally mount said at least two tire sections; a transmission link mechanically engaged by said axle/end gear; and a tire transforming mechanism within each of said at least two transforming tires and in operable connection with the transmission link.
 3. The toy model of claim 2, wherein said tire transforming mechanism further comprises: a tire link connecting each tire section to the transmission link; a pivot point about which each tire section pivots; and a torsion spring around each of said pivot points and configured to bias each tire section inward, said torsion spring providing the predetermined load threshold for tire transforming.
 4. The toy model of claim 2, further comprising: radio control receiver electronics positioned within the chassis; and a power source for providing power to the motors and the radio control receiver electronics.
 5. The toy model of claim 2 further comprising a lock mechanism connected to the transmission link and configured to selectively lock or unlock the tire transforming.
 6. The toy model of claim 5, wherein said lock mechanism further comprises: a lock pin holder having shafts configured to selectively engage said transmission link; a lock button in mechanical communication with the lock pin holder for enabling the selective engagement of the lock pin holder with the transmission link.
 7. The toy model of claim 1, wherein said at least one motor further comprises: a first motor connected to the gear mechanism and configured to control the transforming tires on a left side of the chassis; and a second motor connected to the gear mechanism and configured to control the transforming tires on a right side of the chassis. 